Northwood University in Texas to end residential program, expand others

In a move to recalibrate to a changing higher education environment, Northwood University -- known for its complete automotive dealership and automotive management degree -- will be closing residential operations on its Cedar Hill, Texas, campus on June 30.

The campus will expand its Adult Degree Program and DeVos Graduate School of Management. Currently enrolled undergraduate students have the option of completing their degrees through the ADP program at Cedar Hill or relocating to Northwood’s residential programs in Midland, Mich., and West Palm Beach, Fla.

Northwood spokesman Michael Curry said the move will not affect the school’s automotive education program.

“In order to get ahead of the hypercompetitive higher education market, we are restructuring our Texas operations, and realigning and optimizing resources to achieve the right mix of traditional and nontraditional learning models, for Northwood to continue our success well into the future,” Northwood CEO Keith Pretty said in a statement.

Undergraduate classes ended May 2, and commencement for the Texas campus was held May 8. For the 2013-14 academic year, there were 543 undergraduate students and 59 graduate students.

The ADP program combines night, weekend and online courses. According to Northwood’s Web site, the program offers majors in accounting, management and marketing as well as a minor in automotive marketing and management.

Pretty said in the statement that the shifted attention to the ADP and graduate programs aligns with Northwood’s mission statement of “develop[ing] the future leaders of a global, free-enterprise society.”

“This necessary restructuring of our Texas Operations enables Northwood University to leverage our strengths, increase our ability to deliver a high quality education, and to better focus on achieving our vision and mission,” Pretty said in the statement.